Video brendan shine as a rapper in this 1991 single

Of all the descriptions people might attach to Brendan Shine, 'rap music pioneer’ is not one that immediately springs to mind.

Yet, one of the more unusual moments during his five decades in music came in 1991, when the Athlone man recorded one of the first-ever Irish rap singles.

The song, called 'Rinka’, reached number 11 in the Irish charts.

“It upset a few people at the time. I dressed up in the leathers and things like that for it!” Brendan recalled on Friday last.

“It was fun. A lot of my music is fun music. There’s serious music too, but I’m firm in the belief that music should be about fun and entertainment.”

This week's Westmeath Independent includes a two-page special feature in which Brendan looks back on over 50 colourful years in the music business.

Here is the video evidence of Brendan's time as a rapper, keeping it real out on the mean streets:

http://youtu.be/CnofM3VYQ-g